Direction finding and adjustable directional communication integrated antenna and antenna mode switching method

Abstract

The invention relates to a direction-finding and adjustable directional communication integrated antenna which comprises a communication antenna, a plurality of direction-finding and communication cooperative antennas are arranged around the communication antenna in the circumferential direction, each direction-finding and communication cooperative antenna is a dipole antenna and is composed of two arms, and the two arms are connected through a signal relay. The main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction-finding and communication cooperation antenna, and the change of the type of the direction-finding and communication cooperation antenna refers to that the direction-finding and communication cooperation antenna is changed into a monopole antenna from a dipole antenna through a signal relay. The integrated antenna can be switched among a plurality of working modes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication, as well as an antenna mode switching method. Background Technology

[0002] Antennas are used in wireless equipment to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves. Existing antennas are relatively simple, generally having only one operating mode. For example, an omnidirectional antenna only has an omnidirectional operating mode, and a directional antenna only has a directional operating mode. There is no integrated antenna that can switch between multiple operating modes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this, an integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication is provided. This integrated antenna can switch between multiple operating modes.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: An integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication includes a communication antenna and several direction finding and communication coordinating antennas arranged circumferentially around the communication antenna. The direction finding and communication coordinating antennas are dipole antennas, each consisting of two arms connected by a signal relay. The main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction finding and communication coordinating antennas. Changing the type of the direction finding and communication coordinating antennas means changing the direction finding and communication coordinating antennas from dipole antennas to monopole antennas via the signal relays.

[0005] In one embodiment, each direction finding and communication coordination antenna is connected to an antenna switching RF switch module.

[0006] In one embodiment, the antenna switching RF switch module is connected to a first pass-through / amplification module and a second pass-through / amplification module. The first pass-through / amplification module is connected to a first RF switch, and the second pass-through / amplification module is connected to a second RF switch. The first RF switch and the second RF switch are respectively connected to the directional instrument signal processing module.

[0007] In one embodiment, the directional instrument signal processing module is connected to a host computer, which is also connected to a first RF switch, a second RF switch, an antenna switching RF switch module, and a signal relay.

[0008] In one embodiment, the host computer is connected to a communication module, and the communication module is connected to a communication antenna.

[0009] In one embodiment, it has a direction finding and receiving mode, an omnidirectional transmitting mode, and a directional transmitting mode.

[0010] In one embodiment, in the direction finding and signal receiving mode, the antenna switching RF switch module, the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the directional signal processing module are in the on state.

[0011] In one embodiment, in directional transmission mode, the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the directional signal processing module are in a closed state, and the main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction finding and communication coordination antenna.

[0012] In one embodiment, the number of direction finding and communication cooperative antennas is eight, and the eight direction finding and communication cooperative antennas are evenly distributed around the communication antenna in the circumference.

[0013] An antenna mode switching method is provided, in which the integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication is switched between three modes: direction finding and receiving mode, omnidirectional transmitting mode, and directional transmitting mode.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: This application improves the communication range of radio communication by reusing antennas without increasing the number of antenna elements, while maintaining the function and performance of radio direction finding.

[0015] By adjusting the phase of the direction-finding and communication coordination antenna using a signal relay, multiple users can communicate over a greater distance within a certain time period.

[0016] Meanwhile, by designing a direction-finding and communication-coordinated antenna, the antenna gain outside the direction of arrival can be selectively reduced, thereby reducing the reception of invalid signals and improving system efficiency.

[0017] The antenna of this application can fulfill the functions of omnidirectional radio communication, directional communication, and direction finding. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a direction finding and communication coordination antenna controlled by a signal relay according to an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an 8-to-2 antenna switching RF switch module according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the direction finding principle of the interferometer in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides an integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication, which includes a communication antenna and a plurality of direction finding and communication cooperative antennas arranged circumferentially around the communication antenna. The direction finding and communication cooperative antennas are dipole antennas, which are composed of two arms connected in the middle by a signal relay. The main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction finding and communication cooperative antennas. Changing the type of the direction finding and communication cooperative antennas means changing the direction finding and communication cooperative antennas from dipole antennas to monopole antennas through the signal relays.

[0024] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown in the figure, there are 8 direction finding and communication coordination antennas. When arranged, the 8 direction finding and communication coordination antennas are evenly distributed around the communication antenna.

[0025] Specifically, the aforementioned integrated direction-finding and adjustable directional communication antenna is a dipole antenna, consisting of two arms connected by a signal relay. The signal relay is in a default conducting state, meaning the two arms form a complete dipole antenna element. When the signal relay receives a control signal, it disconnects one arm, changing the antenna type to a monopole antenna. Its working principle is as follows... Figure 2 As shown.

[0026] Specifically, this application adds a communication antenna in the middle of the eight direction finding and communication coordination antennas. By controlling the change of the type of each direction finding and communication coordination antenna through the host computer, the mutual coupling between antenna array elements is affected, which further affects the direction of the main lobe of the antenna pattern, thereby turning the original omnidirectional antenna into a directional antenna, increasing the gain in a specific direction, and thus improving the communication distance.

[0027] Based on the above, in one embodiment, each direction-finding and communication coordination antenna is connected to an antenna switching RF switch module. The antenna switching RF switch module is connected to a first pass / amplify module and a second pass / amplify module. The first pass / amplify module is connected to a first RF switch, and the second pass / amplify module is connected to a second RF switch. The first and second RF switches are respectively connected to a direction finder signal processing module. The direction finder signal processing module is connected to a host computer, which is also connected to the first RF switch, the second RF switch, the antenna switching RF switch module, and a signal relay. The host computer is connected to a communication module, and the communication module is connected to a communication antenna.

[0028] Specifically, such as Figure 1As shown, eight direction-finding and communication coordination antennas are evenly arranged in a circular array around a central concentric antenna. A direction-finding system is formed by configuring a corresponding matching network and an antenna switching switch (an 8-to-2 antenna switching RF switch module). The distance between the antennas is half the wavelength of the primary operating frequency. In direction-finding and reception mode, the antenna switching RF switch module, the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the direction finder signal processing module are in the active state. In this mode, no signal is transmitted; it is only used for direction-finding and signal reception functions. During direction finding, the host computer controls the 8-to-2 antenna switching RF switch module, which... Figure 1 The operation of switching control 2 in the middle selects 2 antennas from 8 antennas to form a baseline. The host computer calculates the angle between the phase of the incoming wave and the baseline, and then calculates the approximate direction of the incoming wave through the angle between the baseline and the normal. By switching, the direction of the incoming wave is converged to obtain a more accurate angle.

[0029] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the direction finding stage mainly involves switching different antenna pairs using an 8-to-2 antenna switching RF switch module, and measuring the signal phase difference between the two receiving antennas using baseband measurement to achieve the direction angle measurement.

[0030] like Figure 4 As shown, based on the direction finding principle of relevant interferometers, the direction finding information processing flow is as follows: The first step is to calculate the channel phase difference. Based on the 8-element circular array structure, by selecting two antennas and determining a direction-finding baseline, the phase difference of the received channel signals of the two array elements corresponding to this direction-finding baseline can be calculated to form a phase difference vector.

[0031] The second step is phase sample library acquisition. Based on the channel phase difference solution method in the first step, different pairs of antennas are selected from 8 to 2, and the phase difference vectors of beacon signals located at different positions (each position corresponds to a different azimuth angle) are measured and stored to form a phase sample library.

[0032] The third step is DOA calculation. The phase difference vector measured in real time is correlated with each vector in the phase sample library, and the maximum correlation result is searched. The azimuth angle corresponding to the phase difference vector in the sample library with the maximum correlation value is the direction finding result.

[0033] Furthermore, if the host computer does not control the direction-finding and communication coordination antennas—that is, if the host computer does not control the signal relays of the direction-finding and communication coordination antennas—then the antenna in this application simultaneously supports direction-finding and omnidirectional communication functions. External signals are processed by their respective antennas and the corresponding directional instrument signal processing and communication modules to achieve their respective functions.

[0034] It should be noted that because the direction finder's signal processing module has high receiving sensitivity, when the communication module needs to transmit, the direction finder's signal processing module needs to be protected by disabling its receiving function. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the specific operation is controlled by the host computer. Figure 1 In the first state, "Switching Control 1" is in the off state, meaning both the first and second RF switches are turned off, disabling the direction-finding antenna's receiving function. Simultaneously, the host computer shuts down the directional instrument signal processing module. Next, the transmission task is executed. After transmission is complete, "Switching Control 1" is restored to the on state, meaning both the first and second RF switches are turned on, and the directional instrument signal processing module is also activated. At this point, direction finding and signal reception are possible.

[0035] In one embodiment, in directional transmission mode, i.e., when directional signal transmission is required, the host computer turns off the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the directional signal processing module. Furthermore, the host computer changes the type of at least a portion of the direction-finding and communication coordination antennas to alter the main lobe direction of the communication antenna. This involves controlling the signal relays of a portion of the direction-finding and communication coordination antennas, transforming that portion into a monopole antenna. This converts the original omnidirectional antenna into a directional antenna, increasing gain in a specific direction and thereby improving the communication distance.

[0036] It is understandable that when omnidirectional signal transmission is required, that is, in omnidirectional transmission mode, the signal relays of each directional finding and communication coordination antenna are in the conducting state, that is, the two arms of the directional finding and communication coordination antenna form a complete dipole antenna element.

[0037] As can be seen from the above description, the antenna of this application can switch between receiving mode, omnidirectional transmitting mode and directional transmitting mode through different control methods.

[0038] Another embodiment of this application provides an antenna mode switching method, which uses the integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication described above in this application, and switches between the following three modes: direction finding and receiving mode, omnidirectional transmitting mode, and directional transmitting mode.

[0039] The method described in this application can achieve switching between multiple operating modes using only one integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication.

[0040] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication, characterized in that, It includes a communication antenna, and several direction-finding and communication-cooperating antennas are arranged circumferentially around the communication antenna. The direction-finding and communication-cooperating antennas are dipole antennas, which are composed of two arms connected in the middle by a signal relay. The main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction-finding and communication-cooperating antenna. Changing the type of the direction-finding and communication-cooperating antenna means changing the direction-finding and communication-cooperating antenna from a dipole antenna to a monopole antenna through the signal relay.

2. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each direction finding and communication coordination antenna is connected to the antenna switching RF switch module.

3. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 2, characterized in that, The antenna switching RF switch module is connected to the first pass / amplify module and the second pass / amplify module. The first pass / amplify module is connected to the first RF switch, and the second pass / amplify module is connected to the second RF switch. The first RF switch and the second RF switch are respectively connected to the directional instrument signal processing module.

4. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 3, characterized in that, The directional instrument signal processing module is connected to the host computer, which is also connected to the first RF switch, the second RF switch, the antenna switching RF switch module, and the signal relay.

5. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 4, characterized in that, The host computer is connected to the communication module, and the communication module is connected to the communication antenna.

6. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 1, characterized in that, It features direction finding and receiving modes, omnidirectional sending modes, and targeted sending modes.

7. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 6, characterized in that, In direction finding and signal receiving mode, the antenna switching RF switch module, the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the directional instrument signal processing module are all in the ON state.

8. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 6, characterized in that, In directional transmission mode, the first RF switch, the second RF switch, and the directional signal processing module are in the off state, and the main lobe direction of the communication antenna is changed by changing the type of the direction finding and communication coordination antenna.

9. The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of direction finding and communication cooperative antennas is 8, and the 8 direction finding and communication cooperative antennas are evenly distributed around the communication antenna in the circumference.

10. An antenna mode switching method, characterized in that, The integrated antenna for direction finding and adjustable directional communication described in any one of claims 1 to 9 can switch between the following three modes: direction finding and receiving mode, omnidirectional transmitting mode, and directional transmitting mode.

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